If you see “REGALA CARD RANCHO SANTA CA” on your bank or credit card statement, do not just freak out right away, there is an explanation behind it, and we’ll let you know if this charge is legit or not. So for now, worry not and just keep on reading. Alright, to explain things or make it much clearer, well, it most likely comes from a purchase at a marijuana dispensary in Rancho Santa Margarita, California. Simple as that! And for those who have no idea yet, well, Regala Card is the name used for a payment system that some dispensaries use so that you can pay with your card. Since buying weed is not allowed everywhere in the U.S., usual credit card companies often avoid these shops, which is why they choose Regala Card. Get it now? That is why this unusual name appears with the city Rancho Santa Margarita, shortened to “RANCHO SANTA CA.” Simple as that!
Is This Charge Real or a Scam?
Right off the bat, well, it is kinda good news that this charge is probably legit, and why do we say that is simple actually, like, if you bought something from a dispensary in that area, this charge is real. Perhaps you picked up some weed or edibles recently? That explains it. Get it now? But if you feel confused and think, “I did not buy anything like that,” then it can be a mistake or someone else is out there using your card and having a fun time, that could very well be the case. As far as we checked, you see, online forums say that this charge comes from a dispensary, though, we’d still say that it does not hurt to check.
By this point, all of you know that Regala Card is a payment system used by some marijuana dispensaries in the United States. And just for the sake of letting you know about the rules, you see, since cannabis is not fully accepted at the federal level, major credit card networks usually avoid these transactions. Dispensaries thus use alternatives like the Regala Card. And sure enough, the system takes both debit and credit card payments. You see it on your statement with the text “REGALA CARD” followed by a location, such as “RANCHO SANTA CA,” which stands for Rancho Santa Margarita, California.
Several users on Reddit confirm that Regala Card is linked to cannabis transactions so that kinda explains this charge since there are other actual people talking about it who have seen this charge just pop up on their credit card bill.
But Like, Why Does This Charge Appear on My Statement Though?
Well, that could be that you purchased something at a dispensary down there in Rancho Santa Margarita that uses the Regala Card system. But let’s say you’re 100% sure that you have never been to a place like that, but you’re still seeing the charge on your credit card, well, straight up, in our opinion, that’s kinda alarming. How? Well, there could be reasons like someone else is using your card, maybe your card details were leaked online, or things like that. Though, that’s not the case with many of the users out there on online forums, you see, some users say that these charges may create confusion because the general name might be grouped with items like “groceries” on your statement.
